Why do metals displace other metals from their atoms?

Answer 1

A single-displacement reaction, also called single-replacement reaction, is a type of oxidation-reduction chemical reaction when an element or ion moves out of one compound and into another. (One element is replaced by another in a compound.) This is usually written as...A + BC→ AC + B

This will occur if A is more reactive than B.

In the activity or reactivity series, the metals with the highest propensity to donate their electrons to react are listed first, and the most unreactive metals are listed last. Therefore a metal higher on the list is able to displace anything on the list below it. The order of activity for metals is Li>K>Ba>Ca>Na>Mg>Al>Mn>Zn>Cr>Fe>Co>Ni>Sn>Pb>H2>Cu>Ag>Hg>Pt>Au. Similarly, the halogens with the highest propensity to acquire electrons are the most reactive. The activity series for halogens is F>Cl>Br>I

Answer 2

One metal may displace another in a compound if it is more reactive. One example is the raction of aluminium with Fe2O3 which is endothermic and produces Al2O3 and molten iron. Aluminium is more reactive than iron. Note aluminium is normally coated with a very thin layer of Al2O3 which "passivates" the metal making it appear unreactive

Answer 3

Any metal ion that is electrochemically less active will be replaced. Copper will displace silver from an aqueous solution of silver nitrate.

If copper happened to form an insoluble compound, it will precipitate from the solution and effectively replace the other metal. Most copper salts are soluble so I cannot think of a good example...maybe some reaction could be pushed by the production of copper carbonate.

Answer 4

a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal because a more reactive metal has more affinity for other nonmetals than a comparitively less reactive protein.

for example, iron displaces copper from copper sulphate as it is more reactive than copper and hence it forms iron sulphate.

Answer 5

Whether there is a reaction or not. Depends on the metal and the metal in the product (salt), and not on the acid from which the salt was derived.